Prior to joining the Court of Appeals, Judge Marilyn Zayas served the community as an attorney for nearly 20 years. Judge Zayas has practiced in numerous Hamilton County courts including Common Pleas, Municipal, Domestic Relations, Juvenile and Probate, various Courts of Appeals, and Federal Courts. She has an extensive legal background including: investor, business and family immigration law; intellectual property; labor and employment; criminal; and juvenile law.
As an attorney, she partnered with several law enforcement agencies on victims’ advocacy issues to develop best practices so that foreign born victims would overcome their fears, report crimes, cooperate with the investigation of crimes, and appear for court proceedings. Judge Zayas has served as an adjunct professor at her alma mater, the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
She is the recipient of the prestigious University of Cincinnati College of Law 2017 Nicholas Longworth, III Alumni Achievement Award, and was awarded the League of United Latin American Citizens Women’s National Convention Service and Commitment Award in 2014 and the Ohio Commission of Hispanic and Latino Affairs, Distinguished Hispanic Ohioan Award in 2013.
In 2016, Judge Marilyn Zayas was elected to the First District Court of Appeals. Of the 12 appellate courts and 69 appellate judges in Ohio, she was the first Latina to judge elected. As an appellate judge, her decisions create the law that all of the courts and citizens of Hamilton County must follow.